THE University FC’s winning run was brought to a halt when they were held to a draw by Staffordshire League side, Uttoxeter Town.

It was a game that had just about everything bar the main ingredient of goals and acted as good entertainment for the near 150 crowd.

The visitor’s competitive style seemed to upset the Uni who just couldn’t get any real rhythm into their game. The Staffordshire side certainly had the better of the first half and delighted their large and vociferous support as they constantly threatened the University goal.

The second half saw the home side coming back into the game and they certainly had enough opportunities to break the deadlock but they constantly made one or two passes too many when a shot at goal was possibly the better option.

However they had goalkeeper Danny Wright to thank for keeping the scores level when he produced the save of the game midway through the half diving to his right to turn a vicious shot away for what turned out to be a fruitless corner.

With just two minutes left Uttoxeter were handed an advantage after Uni defender Shay Brennan was rightly sent off for a professional foul.

Surprisingly, although only having 10 men the Uni side probably had the better of exchanges in the additional 30 minutes but again some good approach work was overdone when the ball reached the penalty area and the University main threat Alun Webb was well shackled by the strong Uttoxeter defence.

The second half of extra time started with the visiting support setting off a flare that covered half the pitch in smoke as both sides battled for a place in the second round.

In the end a draw seemed a fair result leaving the sides to go head to head again on Tuesday evening. It was a game either side could have won but neither side deserved to lose and the crowd had been given their money’s worth.

Stand out players for the Uni side were skipper Kumbirai Mutamba who gave a tireless display and ‘keeper Wright who was equal to whatever came his way.